Pima Community College’s automotive technology program has received official word from the National Automotive Technicians Educational Foundation, letting them know they have successfully renewed accreditation for five more years. Pictured from left are: Tim Polanco-Shop Manager (Watson Chevrolet) NATEF Team Member; Greg Wilson-Academic Dean; Patrick Cooley-Store Manager (Brake Masters) NATEF Team Member; Bryce Bond-Mesa Community College (Faculty) NATEF Evaluation Team Leader; David Stephenson -Department Chair; Roman Carrillo-Faculty; Bryan Goldkuhl-Faculty. (Contributed photo)

On the greener side of Pima Community College’s probationary status with the Higher Learning Commission, the need to inform is more important than ever. With the commitment to change made by the administration at Pima, there is simply more critical news to be relayed.

The Aztec Press has faced issues when dealing with Pima employees including behaviors explicitly prohibited by Freedom of Information Act and Arizona’s Public Record laws. Lack or denial of responses to information, internal investigations and police report requests, changes in department staff and failures to facilitate interviews raise the most important questions.

If transparency was an approved remedy in resolving the college’s discrepancies and reputation, why is anyone facing red tape?

This semester began with difficulties in receiving prompt responses from college administrators.

On Jan. 20, there was a sudden change in the procedure to speak with Chancellor Lee Lambert. Last semester, reporters found that email was a responsive, open and efficient channel.

When the chancellor was asked to speak about Gov. Ducey’s budget plan, he responded by email, “Yes, of course.”

The next email response was from Gabriela Echávarri, administrative assistant to the chancellor, asking all interview requests for the chancellor be directed to Paul Schwalbach.

The change came after receiving written consent from Lambert. After emailing Schwalbach, the marketing and public relations manager of PCC, he did arrange a phone interview for Aztec Press with the chancellor two days later.

While this request was fulfilled, subsequent ones were not even met acknowledged.

On Feb. 11, an email was sent to Schwalbach asking to quote Lambert about the hiring of new Registrar Yolanda Espinoza. Again, he asked for a deadline, which was five days later, Feb. 16. After no response, an update was requested on Feb. 17. No response or interview for a profile piece about a Pima administrator was ever received.

Another reporter experienced no response to a formal request regarding veterans at Pima. His email to Schwalbach on Feb. 20 asked that documentation of the number of veterans receiving GI Bills at Pima be provided.

Though a deadline was provided, communication never came. The reporter did receive an immediate response from the veterans’ director, Daniel Kester.

When Schwalbach was called to answer questions about transparency in public institutions on March 20, he directed the Aztec Press to PCC’s general legal counsel Jeff Silvyn.

Silvyn is responsible for “providing and managing legal services to meet the needs of the college.”

He said the best protocol for information and interview requests is to contact Jodi Horton with a topic.

Horton was hired Feb. 13 as a “temporary public relations consultant.” One of her duties is to provide outreach to local media outlets.

Her phone number is not listed in Pima’s employee directory, no contact information was released in a Feb. 13 press release and the Aztec Press had only received one phone call from her prior to this article.

When called for comment on March 23, Horton’s voicemail box had not been activated yet due to technical issues. After an email was sent, she called the Aztec Press promptly.

“I respond to media inquiries and make connections with interviewees, that’s important,” she said. “I counsel the chancellor in regard to public relations opportunities that might come his way.”

Horton is at Pima no more than 30 hours a month. When she heard about our issues in communication, she was not aware of the specific events. She provided reasons why requests might not have gotten responses.

“The chancellor has made it a policy to be really responsive to the press. He’s very well intentioned about this but very honestly as a lifelong public relations official, if he had asked me it would be my counsel not to be quite so available because it is very difficult in the amount of time he has to prioritize requests and answer every one as it comes in.”

As far as emails that were unanswered, she was not aware of them.

“I don’t know, but it is entirely possible that one of us chased the people down that you wanted to talk to and were not successful ourselves at making that connection in a timely manner. That’s not to say that one of us shouldn’t have gotten back to you, we should have, but I don’t know what specifically happened with this.”

After the phone interview with Horton, she very quickly responded to a request to interview the chancellor. Within an hour of the request, she procured an interview with him for the next day.

Lambert has made transparency one of Pima’s strongest platforms and repeatedly speaks about it in emails and meetings.

“For those of us who work in the public sector, transparency is always an element of what we do,” Lambert said in a phone interview.

When informed of communication issues and unfulfilled records requests, Lambert did not know what the reason was, but agreed that Aztec Press should receive responses.

“I want to make sure we are being supportative of your learning experience and if you are reaching out to get certain information, as long as there is no reason we can’t, we should provide it,” he said.

Silvyn explained the protocol in place for sourcing requests to the right places.

“It provides kind of a central point of contact for information requests to enter the college system,” he said. “It allows us to hopefully do a better job of tracking requests and how and when they are being fulfilled.”

University of Arizona School of Journalism Director David Cuillier doesn’t approve of what he heard from Aztec Press about Pima’s interview process.

“That’s the kind of tactics they are going to use to control information,” Cuillier said.

“These tactics are being applied all around the country in the federal level down to local. Stand your ground and do your reporting and don’t play by their rules,” he said.

“Citizens and the press should not have to play by these restrictive rules to find out what the government is doing.”

Under laws such as the Sunshine Act and the Freedom of Information Act, public institutions have legal obligations. Withholding police reports, failing to respond to requests or holding undisclosed meetings is illegal.

The Arizona Public Records Law requires that “all public records be open to inspection by any person at all times during office hours.”

First Amendment Coalition attorney Dan Barr calls the laws fundamental protections that democracy was designed to give.

“For the people to effectively govern themselves, they need as much information about the operation so they can evaluate what government officials are doing and they can participate to the full extent possible in their government,” he said.

Barr said Pima was trying to wait out the student journalists.

“It’s what a lot of governmental bodies do,” he said. “They string you along with the hope that you go away. They have learned the lesson that the delay of information can be the denial of information.”

Barr advised that legal repercussions could be taken against a public institution that failed to supply public records in a timely manner.

The call for sunshine at PCC reached a high point in 2011 when the college gained nationwide attention for former student Jared Loughner.

Suspended from PCC in 2010 for erratic behavior, Laughner was responsible for a mass shooting on Jan. 8 that killed six and wounded 14 others, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

“Pima didn’t want to give out any information,” he said. “Then people started digging into more stuff and stuff that didn’t even have to do with Loughner. I’m pretty sure it was like, ‘is this place that dysfunctional?’”

Media outlets from across the country looked to Pima for answers and many were met with “stonewalling.” Former Aztec Press news editor Debbie Hadley wrote an editorial in March 2011, expressing a need for Pima to shed a little light.

“PCC provides documents as mandated by law, but keeps a tight noose around release of information,” she wrote. “PCC’s attempts to control information are misguided and counterproductive.”

Cuillier said PCC’s transparency has been hazy for a long time.

“Pima has had a long tradition of secrecy in this community,” he said. “The community college has been controlling over information with student media and withholding information from commercial media.”

Patterns of PCC to refuse interviews and public records have been felt by several local newspapers, including the Green Valley News.

Dan Shearer, editor of the Green Valley News, said his newspaper’s biggest issue with Pima is a lack of clarity on the future of the small PCC learning center in the area.

He believes the college could work in harmony with media.

“Pima has a terrific story to tell,” he said. “Media can help get that story out. Pima can build trust with the media by being as responsive during the tough requests as they are with the pleasant.”

PCC regularly supplies press releases and event information to the Aztec Press, but Shearer has ideas for improvement to the college’s technique.

“Pima needs to dump its current method of sending out press releases and hoping they make it to local media, and instead adopt an aggressive online campaign that frames a simple message for the community: ‘We help people get to where they want to be.’”

“Pima has had a problem over the past few years of reacting to the story of the day rather than getting in front of it, framing it and rolling it out,” he added.

There are reasons the freedom of information is protected and public institutions are expected to commit to the highest level of honesty available.

Cuillier says transparency is a tool against corruption and a major component of democracy. “Without it we would just end up being a police state or a dictatorship,” he said.

Horton, the temporary public relation employee, believes the process currently in place will improve once a permanent person is hired.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have the staff or personnel in the advancement office to run a news bureau in the same way that the U of A can,” she said.

“This is an unusual situation, but soon you should have an executive director of public relations in place and things should go more smoothly.”

For Lopez, transparency at Pima is all related to the challenges created by HLC. He said administrators must remember to place focus back on where it belongs, the students.

“One thing that the chancellor said that I agree with and I will hold him to was, ‘if it’s good for the students, it’s good for Pima.’ Let’s do what’s right for the students,” he said.

Silvyn said public institutions are legally bound to transparency on certain levels.

“Some degree of transparency is required or at least implied by some applicable laws and since Pima is a public institution there’s a value in the public being able to have access to information about what’s going on at the college and important decisions that are made here,” he said.

Lambert has asked the Aztec Press to email him all failed correspondence so that he can talk to the individuals responsible for communication.

“I will make sure you get a response,” he said.

The majority of incidents included in that email are requested PCC police reports.When Pima does not supply requested reports, free of redactions, it is illegal.

As far as what will happen next, one editor’s advice echoes the Aztec Press’s dedication.

“Do not back down, know the law and quote it, bang on the door till it’s falling off its hinges,” Shearer said.

Part 2 of this series will publish in Issue 6 on April 9. It will cover police records and provide an update on issues the student newspaper has experienced with transparency.

Editor’s Note: Jodi Horton is at Pima no more then 30 hours a month. This was incorrectly stated as Horton is at Pima no more then 30 hours a week. The correction has been made. Horton stated in an email she is at Pima 33 hours a month.

Science is everywhere in the world, and in our lives. James Madison once said, “Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.” With the abundance of knowledge, it is important to know that there is also an abundance of ignorance.

10. Natural v. artificial
A sizable population of people believes that natural is good and artificial is bad, but the world isn’t painted in black and white. There is plenty of “bad” in natural, like un-pasteurized milk. Some artificial is bad, like artificial sweeteners, but some of it is good, like insulin and prosthetic limbs.

9. Skeptic
A person who denies a scientific claim and uses inadequate evidence to void the claim does not qualify for the title of skeptic. An actual skeptic is an open-minded individual who is open to “fact check” the science itself. In reality, scientists are willing skeptics since they have to check their own claims and correct them.

8. Chemical
A common misconception is that chemicals are a dirty, glowing, radioactive and cancer-causing substance. In reality, it is just a very general term for particular sets of molecules. There are some good chemicals and some bad. You all know what water is made out of: two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. There you go, you have a chemical. Is water bad?

7. “Miracle”
An event that is unlikely but well timed and positive is something called a coincidence in the logical science world. Sometimes you’ll hit the lottery, sometimes you’ll get struck by lightning. The odds are slim, but someone has to win the lottery. Think of these outcomes as “good luck” in a non-spiritual way.

6. The age of the Earth
The Earth is roughly 4.5 billion years old — hard for the human mind to comprehend, granted that the first human arrived about 100,000 years ago. The age of the Earth is not fact. It is a mere calculation based on complicated evidence such as radioactive decay, meteorites, geological formations and the fossil record.

5. “Brainiacs”
Everybody has an image in their head of a “mad scientist.” Now realize that the image is just a stereotype. Not all scientific thinkers have doctorates and wear lab coats. They just use a mixture of knowledge and critical thinking, something we can all do by taking a science class, watching “Cosmos” and educating ourselves. We may not ever be scientists, but we can all understand science.

4. Hypothesis
When you try to guess or figure out something and say, “it’s just a theory,” you are really using a hypothesis. There is some fact in a hypothesis, but there are other possible outcomes. Conversely, theory is the only possible outcome based on scientific facts. In the scientific world, a hypothesis that is tested and proven can be a stepping stone to a theory.

3. Fact
A fact is a term to show that something is empirical. In order to prove something as a scientific fact, you must be able to observe it and repeat it. This usually applies to natural occurrences, such as physics. Not all facts are scientific. “Africa is a continent” is a general knowledge fact. There is a difference between evidence and fact. Evidence is used to support a claim but doesn’t prove the claim-fact, whereas a fact is a claim proved to be true.

2. Natural selection
Evolution is a widely misunderstood topic. The basic concept of natural selection should be understood first. In the Arctic Circle, imagine a hypothetical ecosystem of white and brown rabbits and wolves. Now fast forward 50 years. The population of the white rabbits will likely increase or remain the same while the brown rabbits will be nearly extinct. This is due to the lack of ability to hide in the snow from their predator, the wolf.

1. Theory
Contrary to popular belief, a theory is not “just an idea.” It is the best-supported explanation available. It is based on fact, not a “guess.” In order to form a theory, you need a good amount of fact to back it up. After a scientist forms a hypothesis, it is peer-reviewed. Some theories can take years to be published, but the beautiful thing about science is that it can change.

What’s your opinion? Share your thoughts by posting a comment on the story at aztecpressonline.com.

Artwork created by Pima Community College students will be on display April 6-May 8 at the Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition in the Louis Carlos Bernal Gallery.

The Bernal Gallery is located in the Center for the Arts complex on West Campus. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A reception and awards ceremony will be held Thursday, April 16, at 2 p.m. The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.

The exhibit has been recognized as an important showcase for emerging student artists. Students from all PCC campuses were offered an opportunity to present their work in a professional venue to be viewed by the general public.

The workshop will offer focused, intensive exploration of poetry writing, with a variety of activities and lots of hands-on practice.

Workshop hours are 6-8 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Participants will also write on their own Saturday night.

Blanchfield, a poet and essayist, is the author of two books, “Not Even Then” and “A Several World,” which was awarded the 2014 James Laughlin Award from the Academy of American Poets and named a finalist for the 2014 National Book Award in Poetry.

His nonfiction collection, “Onesheets,” is forthcoming from Nightboat Books next winter. Blanchfield is also the poetry editor for Fence magazine.

He has taught creative writing at the University of Arizona, University of Montana, Pratt Institute of Art and Otis College of Art and Design.

Current PCC students can enroll through MyPima. Non-students can fill out an online admission form at pima.edu, then enroll.

The workshop counts for two credits. The course number is WRT 298T2 and the CRN is 22951. Cost for Arizona residents is $141 for tuition and $21 in fees.

For more information, contact Josie Milliken at jlmilliken@pima.edu or 206-7156, or Brooke Anderson at bdanderson@pima.edu or 206-7350.

Miss Indian pageant

The Native American Student Association will hold a pageant on March 28 to select Miss Indian Pima Community College.

The main purpose of the pageant is to promote the culture and traditions of Native American students, according to NASA vice chairman Deljean Valentine.

Pageant contestants will showcase their talents through dance, skits, storytelling and singing. They will also write an essay. The runnerup will hold the title of first attendant.

Mexican Baseball Spring Training: March 13-29
Four Triple-A teams from the Liga Mexicana De Beisbol league of Mexico will play in a series of 12 exhibition games at the Kino Sports Complex, 2500 E. Ajo Way. Check the website calendar for dates. Fans can purchase tickets at the Kino box office.
Details: kinosportscomplex.com or 434-1011

Spring Artisans Market: March 27-29
Hundreds of Southwestern artisans will sell their works from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. each day in the courtyards of Tucson Museum of Art, 140 N. Main Ave. There will also be live music, food vendors and activities for children. Admission is free.
Details: tucsonmuseumofart.org/events/artisans-market or 624-2333

Seventh Annual Tucson Tattoo Expo: March 27-29
Live tattooing, tattoo contests, a fashion show, a car show, an art gallery and more will be on display at Hotel Tucson City Center, 475 N. Granada Ave. Tickets cost $10 a day, or $15 for the weekend. See the website for a detailed list of events and times.
Details: tucsontattooexpo.com

Southwest Indian Art Fair: March 28-29
The Arizona State Museum, 1013 E. University Blvd., will host “Southern Arizona’s premier Indian art show and market” on its front lawn from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday. Some 200 Native artists will discuss their pottery, katsina dolls, paintings, jewelry, baskets, rugs, blankets and more. Other activities include artist demonstrations, live music and dancing. Admission costs $10.
Details: statemusueum.arizona.edu

“Once”: March 31- April 5
As part of Centennial Hall’s “Broadway in Tucson” series, the winner of the 2012 Tony Award for Best Musical will be in town through April 5. Check the website below for times and details. UA Centennial Hall is located at 1020 E. University Blvd.
Details: broadwayintucson.com/shows_once

The battle is yours. This month we all feast in your glory, oh Aries. Perhaps you could benefit from sharing a toast with somebody deserving. Throwing destructive Scorpio some scraps under the table could gain you a loyal pawn to fit to your designs and spare you the lowly task of wiping their guts from your grieves after squishing them like the bug they are, dare they cross you.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Taurus, though you believe now is the time to make your move you must look at the board in its entirety. Striking prematurely will only expose your mouth-watering flanks. Look into your enemies eyes and allow them the first mistake, then let loose the herd. Only then shall their shinies be yours.

Gemini (May 21-June 21)

Where knowledge is power for all, misinformation is king and crowned only by you, Gemini. As the fools scurry about preparing for conflict, should you too make haste in fanning the flames of distrust? Going to bed with all sides until the dust settles is not only the key to your survival, it’s also the only way to enjoy yourself in this tavern of life. Every man dreams of twins, and you shall give them all what they want and deserve, both of your faces and a knife in their back.

Cancer (June 22-July22)

Cancer, intuition tells you that the love you seek cannot exist until this madness subsides. However, your answer to this equation will never be heard until you learn to show your work, slow down and stop with the madness that is your own. Casting your talents aside to rant of evil at all hours is raising questions on your sanity, keeping everyone up at night and putting a juicy target on your back.

Leo (July 23- Aug. 22)

How quick your friends are to change flags when another buys their drinks, Leo. In toppling arrogant Ares two can play that game. Spend coin on Cancer’s laments and you will learn that true leadership lies in consoling your fellows. If you manage to quell your pride the gracious moonchild will gift you in prophecy, and the key to hanging your crown on your head, and a set of horns above the mantle.

Virgo (Aug.23-Sept.22)

Virgo, your many virtues going to waste you are more a tragedy than even your brilliance will allow you to comprehend. Believing the free steins you been receiving all night are paid for by kindness, your noble spirit is only trumped by your disgust in Gemini’s ethics. Failing to see where your value really lays; unless you too hike up the skirt, grab the goatskin and start whispering in ears you will find yourself with your back on the dirty hardwood, staring into the hungry eyes of a dominant fire sign and no one to hear your muffled sobs for help.

Libra (Sept.23-Oct.22)

You have made all the right moves, you have secretly pulled the strings for those around you, and you have profited the most with minimal effort. So why is it, Libra that you feel that hole in you growing deeper as you raise your stein to toast those you care not for? Could that just be it? Have you compromised your true romantic heart for a better position in your peers’ eyes, only to find yourself dining amongst thieves? You take a drink but still cannot wash the bad taste from your mouth. It’s your move, but then again, hasn’t it always been? Better not lose your focus, lest you get trampled under hoof.

Scorpio (Oct.23-Nov.21)

Scorpio, you need no fool to announce you. You are where you are in life strictly by your own merit and that is just a fact everyone else is going have to learn, the hard way preferably. Where emotional Cancer squanders their foresight in lunacy, Pluto helps you adapt while Mars reaffirms your position. You are never caught off balance as you roll with the punches and take the fight to your foes and your allies should they forget their place beneath you.

Sagittarius (Nov.22-Dec.21)

With so many easy targets, Sagittarius you may want to apply your dead eye to more challenging game. Though you are naturally pulled toward Libra your deep passion to be free may leave you not desiring to be tied down just yet. The need to frolic with a less experienced partner will set your sights preying on Virgo’s innocence. Though the mental struggle ensues from the greeting, eventually all lay beneath your charms. The drinks aren’t offering any sanctuary either. Bull’s eye, and you didn’t even break a sweat. You must leave something for the after party.

Capricorn (Dec.22 -Jan.19)

Capricorn, your self-obsession and constant lack of approval for the accomplishments of others have left you grazing in a field all your own. You believe this to be due to your superior work ethic and that is exactly what deceitful Gemini would have you believe. When you nurse others to strength you cannot help but remind them how lost they would be without you. You fail to see the milk has soured until you change this, you will continually expect a parade that will never come.

Aquarius (Jan. 20 -Feb.18)

Unaware that the future lies in that beautiful, rabid fire mind of yours, Aquarius, you’re an enigma even unto yourself. Your bottomless chalice in hand, you sit quietly paving the way for the less fortunate as they destroy themselves and each other with their selfish desires.

Pisces (Feb.19-March 20)

Pisces, although a raving lunatic may not be anybody’s slice of pie when searching for a mate, you can’t necessarily say you have been the most well behaved former lover yourself, can you? Use your combined gifts of premonition to stay one step ahead of the predatory ambitions of others and find what keeps the other happy. This scene was dead a long time ago, but of course you knew that didn’t you?

“I would like two things: more social events that take place on campus, and more tutors available to assist students.”

Eduardo Lujan, 21
Major: Administration of Justice

“I’d like to see more diverse student clubs, like a political science club or a criminal justice debate club.”

Joshua McLean, 19
Major: Engineering

“I’d like to see better customer service in the bookstore and in the new cafeteria.”

Kari Mattias, 20
Major: Nutrition

“I would like to see the tutoring center more accessible on Saturdays. Basically, more tutors, longer hours.”

Monique Carillo, 26
Major: Computer Science

“I would like better communication between students and advisors. I’d also like to see better communication between advisors and between advisors and administration. Sometimes you get totally different information from each one.”

Don’t have a built-in calculator on your phone? There’s an app for that. Need a flashlight? There’s an app for that, too.

You have probably downloaded apps for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, games and utilities to make your daily life easier.

As easy as it is to download and use these convenient apps, it’s just as easy for viruses, worms and Trojan horses to take over your phone. These malicious codes are known as malware.

The malware that unsuspecting phone users should be worried about is called creepware. This type of malware spies on your online behavior and tracks your exact location, then passes on that information to third parties like advertising networks.

“Most free flashlight apps are creepware,” said Gary S. Miliefsky, CEO of Snoopwall, a company that specializes in cybersecurity.

The FTC complaint alleged the company failed to tell consumers that their precise location would be passed on to third parties and advertising networks.

Even when consumers were given the option to “accept” or “refuse” terms and conditions, private information was still passed on no matter which option they chose.

“Consumers trust first and verify never,” Miliefsky said. “As a result, most of their smartphones are infected with malware that they trust in the form of some useful app or game.”

Pima Community College student Kyle Fruechtenicht has only downloaded the Facebook, Twitter and Instagram apps. His calculator and flashlight were built into his phone.

He believes the built-in apps were an intentional precaution.

“I think developers did it to protect themselves and to protect the customer,” Fruechtenicht said.

Miliefsky and Rob Shimonski, author of “Cyber Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Defense” have outlined tips on protecting your phone and privacy:

• Assume you’ve already been compromised. One red flag is seeing multiple advertisements pop up while using an app, then seeing the same advertisements in your spam inbox.

• Verify the behavior and privacy risks for apps before installing them. Is an app that requires access to your GPS pinpoints, microphone, webcam and contacts a necessity?

• Do a smartphone version of spring cleaning. Delete all apps that you don’t use often or find alternatives that don’t demand so much access to your personal information.

• Turn off Wifi, Bluetooth, Near Field Communication and GPS except when you need them. If you check in on Facebook while sitting at a coffee shop or shopping at the mall, you are leaving yourself vulnerable to an attack from hackers.

• Control the amount of information you share on sites that use geomapping and geolocation, such as social media sites.

• Check to see if your email has put a tracer on you and your phone. Even when your GPS is off, your every move is still being tracked. Simply go to “settings” > “location” > “Google location reporting.” Set “location history” to turn off the tracking feature.

• Limit your personal information, such as your home address and full name, when you sign up for accounts.

Fortunately, Fruechtenicht can say he’s yet to experience being hacked, but he is still cautious.

“It’s an invasion of privacy because you’re not giving consent to that person,” Fruechtenicht said. “But at the same time, if you downloaded an app and you agreed to whatever terms, then you kind of gave away your privacy, because you accepted it.”

Pima Community College has a long-standing history of questionable conduct.

PCC is known locally for being a tough organization to get a word from, especially if it isn’t something administrators want you to hear.

Pima made national news for withholding information pertaining to Jared Loughner in 2011.

Prior to Loughner’s murder of six people in an attempt on former Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford’s life, Pima was aware of Loughner’s mental issues and ultimately expelled him.

Pima only released documents pertaining to information they had on Loughner following a court order.

Many of PCC’s problems have been attributed to the former administration of Roy Flores and were brought to light in a site visit from the Higher Learning Commission that led to the college’s probation.

This is not the Pima we want to be known for.

Since then, issues have come more from turnover and inconsistency within the administration than from individuals themselves.

While no one can doubt that the current administration believes in its clear goal of bringing Pima back to its feet, there are elements of the past that still linger.

One of them is transparency.

Chancellor Lee Lambert often champions the qualities of openness and accountability − a message that gets passed down to other administrators and employees.

However, this does not keep some of the higher-ups from denying transparency when there is something for which the college does not want to be held accountable.

At the Aztec Press, we’ve seen this reluctance in forms ranging from outright refusals of requests for public information from police reports to internal investigations and even interviews.

This policy is obviously contradictory to accountability. In conjunction with the college’s assurance that it wishes to bring its focus back to the students, it is safe to say Pima needs to adjust its sights.

Sometimes openness means talking about the things you don’t want to talk about. Sometimes it means ‘fessing up to your own or others’ mistakes. It’s not always easy, but when it comes to public institutions it is necessary.

The word “community” should not be taken for granted in our college’s name.

We are meant to tackle these problems together, much like we saw during self-evaluations after the probation or even internally as with Pima’s Meet and Confer program.

But when a rift is caused by a lack of communication, it only serves to separate the policy makers from the people that policy ultimately affects.

It is with this urgency that the Aztec Press calls not only upon PCC, but on the students and the community to help dissolve these barriers and focus not on what is easy but on what is right.

This responsibility falls not only to the college, but students as well.

The only way to be comfortable with accountability is to be conduct yourself in a way that you’re positive you’ve done nothing that you wouldn’t want to be held accountable for.

If Pima can make this change then they’ll no longer have to dodge the press, restrict access to public officials, ignore requests for information and deny others the ability to have the conversations this college so desperately needs to have.

Reaccreditation was a milepost, not the destination.

Once Pima shows that it is ready and able to talk about the things it doesn’t want to talk about, then we’ll be on the right path.

When it comes to a college that has “community” in the name, honesty is the best and only policy.

Written on behalf of the Aztec Press Editorial Board by Co-Editor in Chief Nick Meyers.

]]>http://aztecpressonline.com/2015/03/aztec-press-editorial-honesty-is-the-only-policy/feed/0FROM THE EDITOR: We want you to know the truthhttp://aztecpressonline.com/2015/03/from-the-editor-we-want-you-to-know-the-truth/
http://aztecpressonline.com/2015/03/from-the-editor-we-want-you-to-know-the-truth/#commentsThu, 26 Mar 2015 20:07:42 +0000http://aztecpressonline.com/?p=24028

By JAMIE VERWYS

When you love something, you will do everything in your power to care for it, protect it and nurture it.

For many of us at the Aztec Press, our words are our children. We pay close attention to our pieces, tenderly editing and re-editing like a gentle, assuring kiss on the cheek before we send our babies out into the world.

And yes, like a mama bear, we will fight for our offspring when oppressors seek to harm them.

In this issue, we stand in unity against wrongdoings at Pima Community College, particularly obstruction of freedom of press.

This is not a clever, low-blow tactic to create a salacious story. This is us standing up for what we love and for what is right. The walls being erected by the college have been growing up around us for years, and it is not just an inconvenience, it may be a crime.

The responsibility taken on by a journalist is to the people and the truth. The truth is sometimes beautiful and sometimes unthinkably cruel, but it always remains more valuable than its outcomes. It is what is. The truth is right.

Our belief that the community should have access to valid information is one so shared that laws are in place to protect us in that mission. They are there for you, the reader, as well.

Freedoms of press and information laws benefit us all on a large scope.

For those of us working in the medium of truth, access to records and information will often determine the quality of our work. We will not, cannot, publish information that is not verifiable and lacking key, well-rounded information.

We scrutinize the current system because we believe it can be improved. I personally have seen Pima’s potential to change lives, and we are working to continue the process of change at this college.

We have chosen to approach these issues head-on because we are committed to keeping you informed on what is next for Pima.

If there are crimes committed on campus, we want you to know so that you may protect yourself. If the budget is being misspent, you deserve to know why it is not being used for you.

If the state is drawing financial support from higher learning institutions, we want to decode the language of politics and share what we have learned.

Enjoy the issue and please note that while we are unsatisfied, we are not negative. The point of these stories is that it doesn’t have to stay this way.

I don’t believe in failure. The only failure we can ever truly experience is the failure to learn, move on and change in the light of our errors.

Congratulations to all of us at Pima for the lifting of our HLC probation.